Adjustable holder for cleaning implement

ABSTRACT

A dusting device is disclosed. There is a telescoping handle, a shank mountable to the handle, and a supporting fork mounted to the shank for relative rotation with respect thereto. A cleaning sleeve is replaceably mountable on the fork for single use dusting purposes. The angle of the fork with respect to the telescoping handle can be releasably fixed by a catch mechanism. While the catch is sufficiently strong to resist angle adjustment during normal dusting, it permits the angle to be adjusted by firmly pressing the end of the fork (with or without the sleeve thereon) against a wall while holding the distal end of the telescoping handle. This converts the duster from a wall duster, to a duster capable of cleaning the tops of ceiling fan blades, without the need for a consumer to touch a portion of the device near the duster head. In another aspect the device has two such adjustable forks for holding two such sleeves which can be used simultaneously.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to cleaning devices such as hand dustersand dust mops. More particularly, it relates to devices of this typehaving a replaceable cleaning implement, preferably a telescopinghandle, and an adjustable support head for mounting the cleaningimplement relative to the handle at various angles.

It is well known to clean dust and dirt from floors, furniture, or otherroom surfaces by rubbing a dust rag against the surface, such that thedust and dirt adhere to the cloth. Sometimes this cleaning isfacilitated by wetting the rag with water, a polish or other liquid.Such cloths or strips thereof have on occasion also been mounted on ahead of a cleaning implement, which in turn is affixed to an elongatedhandle, to thereby create a floor dust mop. See e.g. U.S. Pat. No.2,898,619. Alternatively, the handle has been formed somewhat shorter sothat the resulting structure functions as a hand duster (e.g. one usedto clean dust from Venetian blinds and other structures that are closerto the person cleaning them). See e.g. WO 02/102221 and WO 02/34101.

There have also been efforts to make dusting heads that are used withsuch handles of a material that retains dust even without being wettedwith a polish or other liquid, where the head is nevertheless still soinexpensive that it can be used for a short period of time until soiledand then disposed of. See e.g. WO 02/065887. This is in someapplications an improvement over having materials having such greatstructural integrity (and therefore often cost) that they are used forprolonged purposes or washed between uses.

In other developments, to render a single dusting device more suitablefor both floor/ceiling dusting and close-in furniture dusting, some suchdusting devices have been designed with a telescoping handle which canbe shortened when furniture dusting is desired, and can be elongatedwhen floor or ceiling dusting is desired. See WO 2004/017806.

Recently, there has also been an attempt to provide adjustabilitybetween the angle of the duster head relative to the angle of the handleaxis. See WO 2004/008935. However, this prior design used a stronglocking device as part of the angle adjuster, such that adjustment ofthe handle angle typically required two hands to achieve, with theconsumer's hand needing to come near to the portion of the device wherethe soiled dusting heads were positioned when an adjustment was to bemade.

Thus, a need still exists for improved adjustable holders for cleaningimplements.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first embodiment the invention provides an adjustable holder for acleaning implement. The holder has a support head having one endsuitable to mount a replaceable cleaning implement thereon and anotherend that has a connector portion. There is also a shank having a handleportion at one end and another end that has a connection portion. Theconnector and connection portions can be assembled to connect thesupport head to the shank such that the support head can rotate on anaxis that is transverse to the shank.

The connector and connection portions, when assembled in this fashion,constitute a threshold type holding system that essentially preventsrotation of the support head on the transverse axis when the supporthead is exposed to no torque, or a torque below a selected level oftorque. However, it permits rotation of the support head on thetransverse axis when the support head is exposed to above that selectedlevel of torque. The term “essentially” is used in this context torecognize that the support head may have an inherent materialflexibility such that lower levels of torque will cause the material toflex.

In accordance with this aspect of the invention, rotation of the supporthead on the transverse axis can be initiated by applying a force to saidone end of the support head that is suitable to mount the replaceablecleaning implement thereon when that force results in a torque above theselected level. The rotation can be achieved without the need for a userof the holder to contact the connector or connection portions.

To avoid undesired rotation of the support head when it is exposed totorques typically experienced during normal dusting, the selected levelshould be above 0.25 Newton meters of torque, preferably between 0.3 and1.4 Newton meters of torque, and even more preferably between 0.7 and0.9 Newton meters of torque. Note that if the threshold is set above 1.4Newton meters of torque some consumers may have difficulty adjusting thepositions of the holder, and there may be some instances of materialbreakage as some consumers apply too much force when trying to cause theadjustment.

While a wide variety of threshold type connector assemblies areenvisioned to achieve this result, we prefer that one of the connectorand connecting portions have a lug with a plurality of recesses and theother of the connector and connecting portions have a resilient catchextendible into such a recess. The holder can have a support head havingone end suitable to mount a replaceable cleaning implement thereon andanother end having a lug (preferably a wheel) with a plurality ofrecesses; a shank having a handle portion at one end and a mount atanother end, the support head being mountable to the mount for rotationon an axis that is transverse to the shank; and a resilient catchlocated on the mount and extendible into such a recess.

The catch can inhibit rotation of the support head on the transverseaxis when in such a recess, and can permit rotation of the support headon the transverse axis if not in that interfering position. When thecatch is in such a recess in an interfering position a torque of atleast 0.25 Newton meters (preferably 0.3-1.4 Newton meters, even morepreferably 0.7-0.9 Newton meters) applied to the support head cannevertheless drive the catch from a recess to permit such rotation. Thecatch may be in the form of a tooth that is resiliently biased towardsthe wheel by a resilient arm/root, and the wheel/lug may be generallysprocket-shaped along the majority of its radial periphery.

The wheel recesses can be radially open recesses, preferably those whichare essentially dished in shape, the end of the support head can be inthe form of a fork, a telescoping handle can be linked to the handleportion of the shank so that it can be fixed at varying lengths, and thesupport head can be releasably fixed by the catch at a specified anglerelative to the telescoping handle. Importantly, in accordance with ahighly preferred feature of the present invention, notwithstanding thatthe catch begins in such an interfering position, a user of the devicecan adjust the specified angle of the support head relative to thetelescoping handle merely by contacting the support head against a wall,provided that a torque exceeding the selected level is applied.

In yet other forms a single shank can mount two such support heads,and/or the cleaning implement can be in the form of a sleeve of dustingcloth capable of surrounding one or more tines of the support head.Where two support heads rotationally mounted to the shank, meansassociated with the mount are provided for restricting the rotationalposition of each of the support heads. The restricting means can be aresilient catch located on the mount. In any event, notwithstanding therestricting means a torque applied to the support head of at least 0.25Newton meters (preferably 0.3-1.4 Newton meters, even more preferably0.7-0.9 Newton meters) can rotate the support head relative to theshank.

Because the support heads can be positioned/temporarily fixed at varyingangles with respect to each other, they provide the opportunity forincreased cleaning effectiveness. For example, the top of a dresser canbe dusted at the same time that a side of the dresser is being dustedwhen such a device is provided.

In yet another aspect the invention provides a method of adjusting sucha holder. One first obtains the holder. While holding the handle portion(and preferably no other portion of the device), one presses the supporthead against an object (e.g. a wall or a floor) to cause rotation of thesupport head relative to the handle portion.

When the device is used, it is preferred that a sleeve-like cleaningmitt be mounted over a forked portion of the support head so that alltines of the fork are within the sleeve. The support head tines are, inthis configuration, thus capable of being fully enclosed by the mitt,avoiding the possibility of the fork scratching delicate furniture orother items being contacted.

Embodiments of the present invention therefore achieve many of thedesired functionalities found in existing dusters (e.g. capability ofreplacing the cleaning head after a single use; a single product whichcan dust mop a floor or furniture; a dust mop capable of angularadjustment relative to the main handle; relatively low production andassembly costs). However, they also achieve other desirablefunctionalities in various embodiments.

For example, in a particularly preferred embodiment the angularadjustment can be achieved while the consumer is only holding a portionof the telescoping handle very remote from the duster. A consumer canmerely press the head end against a wall or floor without having tobring the head towards the consumer or re-orient the head using acomplex locking mechanism adjacent or at the connector/connectingportions. Not only is this a quicker adjustment that is achieved withlow cost parts, for consumers having allergies or asthma this will beperceived to be of importance. In any event, the consumer will be ableto have a very wide variety of adjustment position settings,corresponding to the number of recesses in the wheel.

The foregoing and other advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description. In the following description referenceis made to the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof, and inwhich there is shown by way of illustration preferred embodiments of theinvention. Such embodiments do not represent the full scope of theinvention. Reference should therefore be made to the claims herein forinterpreting the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a right, upper, rear, perspective view of an assembledcleaning implement holder, of the present invention, shown in anelongated configuration;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but with parts exploded from eachother, and with an associated cleaning mitt shown adjacent thereto;

FIG. 3 is a partial vertical cross sectional view taken along the FIG. 1longitudinal axis, albeit when the support head has already beenrepositioned to about the 2 o'clock position, rather than the 9 o'clockposition shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view taken along plane 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a catch in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of how the support head can be positioned todust a floor;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of how the support head can be repositionedto dust the top of a cabinet; and

FIG. 9 is an alternative embodiment in which two such support heads aremounted for rotation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a holder 10 designed to beused with a cleaning implement/replaceable dusting sleeve/cleaning mitt11. The holder has a grip 12, telescoping handle extension pieces 13 and14, shank 15 and support head 16. There is also a resilient catch 20.

In this preferred form various radially extending bumps 19 are formed onsome of these parts which fit into corresponding catch holes 17 onadjacent parts. While not shown in detail, these bumps 19 are preferredto be positioned on flexible tabs which can deflect radially inwardly asthe tubular parts are assembled to one another, and then flex radiallyoutwardly into the holes 17 to temporarily fix the tubular parts in theFIG. 1 position.

One can then press the bump 19 of extension part 13 radially inward topermit extension part 13 to telescope into a hollow of handle grip 12.Similarly, the bump 19 on the rear end of extension part 14 can bepressed radially inward to permit extension part 14 to telescope into ahollow of tubular extension part 13. Another possibility is for bump 19at the forward end of extension part 14 to be pressed radially inward topermit extension part 14 to alternatively telescope into a hollow ofshank 15.

This creates a handle out of parts 12, 13, 14 and 15 which can be at itsgreatest length as shown in FIG. 1, or can be configured in a smallerlength for use in closer in applications, or perhaps shipment orstorage. Of course, the present invention can preferably be practicedregardless of whether the handle can telescope at all, or what theparticular linkage is between the parts of the handle, or whether thehandle is formed from multiple parts or one part.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the support head 16 has a forked end 22 withtines 23 supported by a linking section 24, which connects to alug/wheel 25. The catch 20 is best appreciated by reviewing FIG. 6. Ithas a base 30 on which is mounted an interfering projection 31 linked bya flexible arm/root 32 to the base 30. Pressure on the projection 31will cause it to deflect rearwardly. In the absence of pressure it willflex back to its FIG. 6 position.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, the shank 15 has an upper handle section41 and a forward mount 40 having two spaced ears 42.

The wheel 25 preferably has outer integral axels 26 on its opposedlateral sides. The ears 42 of the shank 15 can flex outward from eachother when the wheel 25 is pushed there between. The ears havecorresponding holes 27 into which the axels 26 then snap, therebycreating a pivot joint. This permits about 300 degrees of rotationalmovement of the support 16 relative to the longitudinal axis of thehandle 12/13/14/15.

As best seen in FIG. 3 the catch 20 can be mounted in a recess 50 in theforward end of the shank 15. Walls 34 rest on corresponding ledges 54inside the recess 50. When the support head 16 has its wheel 25assembled into the ears 42 as shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 shows how theresulting internal assembly will operate. It should be noted that thewheel 25 has a series of shallow dished pockets 29, of a generallyparabolic nature, arrayed around its periphery, to create an almostsprocket-like appearance. The projection 31 has a corresponding shapewhich fits into a selected one of the pockets at a time.

As torque is applied to the support head 16, it starts to rotate on theaxis formed by axels 26. The radially outward sections 28 on the wheel25 abut against the projection 31, causing it to deflect rearward,removing the interference of the projection, and permitting rotation tothe next pocket 29. The pockets 29 and projection 31, as well as thetension on the biasing means/resilient arm/root 32, are such that if aconsumer holds the handle grip 12 and pushes the support head 16 with anintention to adjust the support head angle relative to the handlelongitudinal axis, the angle will be repositioned to another stablefixed position, without the need for the consumer to place a hand on ornear the support head 16. Yet, the typical torque experienced duringdusting or drying a surface will not be sufficient to cause the angularadjustment.

In highly preferred forms, the catch 20 is molded from a flexibleplastic such as acetyl or nylon, and the support head 16 is molded froma more rigid plastic such as ABS or a polycarbonate/ABS blend. Theflexibility of the biased projection 31 is such that a torque of atleast 0.25 Newton meters (preferably 0.3-1.4 Newton meters, even morepreferably 0.7-0.9 Newton meters) applied to the support head in a planeparallel to the handle 12/13/14/15 will not cause angular adjustment ofthe support head 16 relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle12/13/14/15, although additional torque will, without causing adestruction of a portion of the device.

Hence, when the device is held by the handle grip 12 as shown in FIG. 7,and begins in the FIG. 1 position, pressing the forward end of a tine ormultiple tines 23 of the support head 16 against a vertical wall withsufficient force can cause the device to adjust to the FIG. 7 stableposition. However, lighter force, such as would typically be appliedduring dusting, will not cause the angular position to be adjusted.

Thereafter, the angular position can be re-adjusted in a similar manner,depending on the object being cleaned. For example, the angle can beadjusted to that shown in FIG. 8 to permit dusting of the top of a tallfurniture cabinet 60, or other items such as the top of ceiling fanblades (not shown).

Once dusting of an area has been completed, one can remove thereplaceable dusting sleeve 11 and replace it with another. In betweenuses the device can be compactly stored as the support head 16 can berotated to the FIG. 3 position, and the handle parts can be telescopedtogether. For purposes of shipment the device can be shipped in acompact package in disassembled form, yet can be quickly assembled by aconsumer without complex instructions. However, it is preferred that theshank 15, catch 20, and support head 16 be pre-assembled at the factoryprior to shipment.

FIG. 9 shows an alternative embodiment in which the telescoping handleparts are the same except for a modification to the forward end of theshank 15A as described below, and except for the use of two similarsupport heads 16A with a slightly different axel feature as describedbelow. The support heads 16A do not have integral axels 26. Instead,when their wheels are aligned side to side inside the shunt mount, theyeach have a through hole where the axel would be.

In this embodiment the catch 20A (not shown) would have a wide enoughprojection 31 so that a single projection can interfere with rotation ofboth support heads 16A. Alternatively, there could be two such catchesmounted in the end of the shank 15A. In any event, the resilient catchor catches interfit with the wheels of the support heads 16A to providesimilar resistive force permitting dusting without adjustment, yetallowing torque over a certain threshold to permit adjustment.

While a resilient catch/recess system, with the recesses on the supporthead and the catch on the shank are the preferred controlling system,the recesses could instead be positioned on the shank with the catch onthe support head. Alternatively, fluidic or other threshold dampingsystems could be applied to achieve the desired function.

Also, it is not necessary that the support head have a forked end, asdistinguished from a single unitary mounting slab. Further, it is notnecessary that the catch 20 be a single piece. Various other types ofresilient catching means can be provided which drives a blocker into atemporary interference with the lug recesses 29 (e.g. a spring under acatch member). It is, however, desirable that the force needed to removethe blocking member from the recess be such as to restrict support headrotation during normal dusting, yet permit support head rotation whenadjustment is truly intended.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been describedand otherwise disclosed herein, alternative embodiments are alsointended to be within the scope of the claims. Thus, the invention isnot to be judged solely by the preferred embodiments. Rather, the claimsshould be looked to in order to judge the full scope of the invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention provides a holder for a duster head or othercleaning implement, where the support head for the duster sleeve isangularly adjustable relative to a handle in a remote fashion.

1. An adjustable holder for a cleaning implement, the holder comprising:a support head having one end suitable to mount a replaceable cleaningimplement thereon and another end that has a connector portion; a shankhaving a handle portion at one end and another end that has a connectionportion; and wherein the connector and connection portions can beassembled to connect the support head to the shank such that the supporthead can rotate on an axis that is transverse to the shank; wherein theconnector and connection portions, when assembled in this fashion,constitute a system that essentially prevents rotation of the supporthead on the transverse axis when the support head is exposed to notorque or a torque below a selected level of torque, and permitsrotation of the support head on the transverse axis when the supporthead is exposed to above a selected level of torque; wherein saidrotation of the support head on the transverse axis can be initiated byapplying a force to said one end of the support head that is suitable tomount the replaceable cleaning implement thereon when that force resultsin a torque above the selected level, without the need for a user of theholder to contact the connector or connection portions; and wherein theselected level is at least 0.25 Newton meters of torque.
 2. Theadjustable holder of claim 1, wherein the selected level is at least 0.3Newton meters of torque.
 3. The adjustable holder of claim 1, whereinthe selected level is at least 0.7 Newton meters of torque.
 4. Theadjustable holder of claim 1, wherein one of said connector andconnecting portions has a lug with a plurality of recesses and the otherof said connector and connecting portions has a resilient catchextendible into such a recess.
 5. An adjustable holder for a cleaningimplement, the holder comprising: a support head having one end suitableto mount a replaceable cleaning implement thereon and another end havinga lug with a plurality of recesses; a shank having a handle portion atone end and a mount at another end, the support head being mountable tothe mount for rotation on an axis that is transverse to the shank; and aresilient catch located on the mount and extendible into such a recess;wherein the catch can inhibit rotation of the support head on thetransverse axis when in such a recess in an interfering position, andcan permit rotation of the support head on the transverse axis if not insuch an interfering position; and wherein the parts are configured andjuxtaposed such that even when the catch is in such a recess a torqueabove 0.3 Newton meters applied to the support head can drive the catchfrom the interfering position to permit such rotation without destroyingthe holder, and without the need for a consumer to otherwise facilitaterotation of the support head relative to the transverse axis.
 6. Theadjustable holder of claim 5, wherein the lug is in the form of a wheeland the recesses are radially open recesses.
 7. The adjustable holder ofclaim 6, in which the recesses are essentially dished in shape.
 8. Theadjustable holder of claim 5, wherein the end of the support head thatis suitable to mount the cleaning implement is in the form of a fork. 9.The adjustable holder of claim 5, further comprising a telescopinghandle linked to the handle portion of the shank.
 10. The adjustableholder of claim 9, wherein the telescoping handle is configured so thatit can be temporarily fixed at varying lengths.
 11. The adjustableholder of claim 10, wherein the support head can be releasably fixed bythe catch at a specified angle relative to a longitudinal axis of thetelescoping handle, and with the catch so initially positioned and whileholding the telescoping handle, a user of the holder can adjust theangle of the support head relative to the telescoping handle merely bycontacting the support head against a wall with a torque exceeding 0.7Newton meters.
 12. The adjustable holder of claim 5, wherein the catchis in the form of a tooth that is resiliently biased towards the wheelby a resilient arm.
 13. The adjustable holder of claim 5, wherein thelug is in the form of a wheel that is generally sprocket-shaped alongthe majority of its radial periphery.
 14. The adjustable holder of claim5, in which the shank mounts two such support heads.
 15. The adjustableholder of claim 5, wherein such a cleaning implement is mounted on thesupport head and has a sleeve portion for receiving at least one tine ofthe support head.
 16. An adjustable holder for a cleaning implement, theholder comprising: a shank having a handle portion at one end and amount at another end; two support heads rotationally mounted to theshank; and means associated with the mount for restricting therotational position of each of the support heads.
 17. The adjustableholder of claim 16, wherein said restricting means comprises at leastone resilient catch located on the mount.
 18. The adjustable holder ofclaim 16, wherein notwithstanding the restricting means a torque appliedto the support head exceeding 0.3 Newton meters can rotate the supporthead relative to the shank, whereas such a torque not exceeding 0.3Newton meters will not cause the support head to rotate relative to theshank.
 19. A method of adjusting a holder for a cleaning implement,comprising: obtaining a cleaning implement having: a support head havingone end suitable to mount a replaceable cleaning implement thereon andanother end having a lug with a plurality of recesses; a shank having ahandle portion at one end and a mount at another end, the support headbeing mountable to the mount for rotation on an axis that is transverseto the shank; and a resilient catch located on the mount and extendibleinto such a recess; wherein the catch can inhibit rotation of thesupport head on the transverse axis when in such a recess, and canpermit rotation of the support head on the transverse axis if not insuch a recess; and wherein even when the catch is in such a recess atorque in the range of between 0.3 and 1.4 Newton meters applied to thesupport head can drive the catch from a recess to permit such rotation;and while holding the handle portion, pressing the support head againstan object to cause rotation of the support head relative to the handleportion by applying such a torque in such a range to the support head.